The A-League club has had a strong partnership with the Apple Isle, but have now expanded it into a three-year agreement that includes naming rights to the state league

Melbourne Victory has signed a three-year deal with Football Federation Tasmania to considerably increase their presence on the Apple Isle, including the naming rights to the newly established state league.

FFT's Northern and Southern premier leagues will be amalgamated from 2013, with the A-League club purchasing the naming rights to the competition - to be named the Victory League - within the agreement.

Victory will also have a "hands-on approach to the growth and development" of football in the state, will visit Tasmania for an annual pre-season camp and have struck a partnership between FFT's elite player pathway to the A-League outfit's National Youth League team.

Friendlies ahead of the 2012-13 A-League season have already been agreed, with Victory to face a Tasmanian XI on August 21 in Hobart and Adelaide United on August 24 on Launceston.

While the monetary details of the deal are unknown, a club press release said they had made a "significant financial contribution".

"Melbourne Victory has had a strong affinity with Tasmania having played in Launceston six times over the past seven years and we’ve developed a strong following. This landmark deal ensures we continue to support the growth and development of football in the state," Victory managing director Richard Wilson said.

"Our new partnership with FFT will only strengthen that foothold in an ever growing market."

FFT president Sean Collins added: "We know the football community are keen for more A-League content in Tasmania and we're delighted that Australia's biggest football club, Melbourne Victory, have agreed to spend a week in Tasmania on a pre-season tour.

"Having Victory in the state for a long stretch of time enables us to run clinics for junior footballers, visit schools, run sessions for up and coming coaches and to engage the whole football community."

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